#cowbow bebop netflix spoilers

[thesylverlining]

Okay. So. As someone who has now FINISHED the Cowboy Bebop Netflix TV Show Program (and yes, did a very recent rewatch of the whole series + movie), I feel most qualified to say:

It's fucking great, y'all are just mean.

The whole thing's enjoyable AF but the finale? FUCKING SLAPS. FUCKING *NECESSARY,* after the *honestly not that great* specific character-execution (ha, pun) of the original. This was Satisfying AS HELL and lets [SPOILER] be uhhhh, a Person, with a whole Arc and a VOICE and whatnot, instead of a weird passive, featureless idealized Concept of the Past??

Like pretty much everyone is MORE INTERESTING and developed in the Netflix show than the anime (aside from the main trio, who are explored in different but FUN, FITTING WAYS) by virtue of getting more time with them in 45-minute eps, but also because:

They get more than one dimension (Julia. JULIA!)

They're more expressive/fun to watch feast on the scenery/has an actual personality and reasons for doing things, even if they're shitty monstrous reasons (Vicious)

They Uhhh, live and interact, instead of appearing separately for an episode or two and then get fridged Very Tragically for shock/very special episode trans tragedy/never mentioned again/no further bearing on the plot (Ana and Gren, and arguably Shin and Mao)

And the VERY ending? The Ed-shaped elephant in the room?

FINE. IT WAS FINE. The actor (who is also nonbinary and AN ACTUAL YOUNG TEEN IN THEIR FIRST BIG ROLE and I've seen some *ugly* things aimed at them on the hellsites) is weird and loud and there's fish-eye camera and "cartoony" movements - because how in the hell else would you believably play Radical Edward? Honestly. Like if you're going to shit on this, then please... DESCRIBE EDWARD TIVRUSKY IV's mannerisms and speech, and then tell me how you'd do it in live-action. (Actually don't, I don't care, that's not the point; the point is IT WAS FINE, nothing was Ruined Forever, no one's set everyone's old DVDs on fire.)

Like if I hadn't known everyone was screaming about how terrible it was, I would have thought nothing of it and simply enjoyed the cameo/sequel-hook. Over-the-top? Dare I say, Cringe? SURE. HOW THE FUCK ELSE - nah, done.

SO yes. I really, really enjoyed it. Sincerely hope it gets a season 2 (and think it has a good chance because hatewatches ONLY BOOST THE NUMBERS), for the story that's set up, and those that still need to be told (Gren! Earth! The Gate disaster! So many questions!). Cannot wait to see what comes next.